About Kadu Malleswara temple ( 15th Cross, Temple Road, Malleswaram), Bangalore

Temple Arch

Steps to reach temple

temple garden at the entrance

Inner sanctum

Kadu Malleswara Swamy

Brahmarambika

serpent stones at the entrance

Lord Subrahmanyeswara at the entrance

The name of the area where this temple is located is named after this temple as Malleswaram. This temple built in Dravidian style is seen just diagonally opposite to Nandi Theertha temple tank. Actually Nandi Theertha is considered as a part of Kadu Malleswara Swamy temple. This temple built on a high hillock was set up by Venkoji, step brother of Shivaji in 17^th century  (1669)when he came here with his minister Baji Rao peshwa. The word “Kadu” in Kannada means “Jungle”. As the surroundings are full of wild trees and shrubs, this temple is called “Kadu Malleswara temple. Venkoji  also built Narasimha Swamy temple seen at the foot of the hillock near Gangamma temple. In 1898 a devotee called Yale Mallappa Shetty renovated Kadu Malleswara temple. In 1981 the Government renovated Narasimha Swamy temple also.

 One has to climb nearly forty steps to reach the temple on the hillock. One finds many serpent stones and a huge serpent statue near the foot of the hillock. The surroundings look very attractive with green trees and plants. Near the entrance of the temple on the left side one can see a mandapa and the kitchen. The Vimana or gopuram of garbha gudi (inner sanctum) was built later in 1993.Recently a mukha mandapa (outer mandapa) was added. The idol of Kadu Malleswara is a tiny Shiva Linga with a pretty statue of Nandi in front outside the inner sanctum. On the back of the inner sanctum to the south,one can see deities of Dakshina Murty and Lord Subrahmanya and on the north, the statue of Chandikeswara. In the Mukha Mandapa the deities of Arthanareeswara, Kashi Viswanatha, Ganapati and Kalabhairava are seen. The navagraha platform is also seen on the other side. There is also Anjaneya temple with a bilwa tree seen behind it.

 In this temple one week-long special utsavas are celebrated during Maha Shiva ratri and special poojas are done during kartika month. The temple timings are from 7.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 6.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. The nearby worthseeing  places are Nandi Theertha Kalyani temple, Narasimha Swamy temple, Gangamma Temple, Gayatri Temple, Vidya Ganapati Temple (W.Park Road), Eswar Temple (11^th Cross, Malleswaram), Sri Maha Ganapati Road (9^th Cross, E-Park Road) and Sankey Tank Lake.

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26th March, 2018                                                             Somaseshu Gutala